Disk harrow angling mechanism



June 10, 1952 J. F. RUDE 2,600,331

DISK HARROW ANGLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l J FIG.|

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3.8 4 H H 4 32 H INVENTOR JOHN F. RUDE BY MVM ATTORNEYS June 10, 1952 J. F. RUDE DISK HARROW ANGLING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Filed Jan. 27, 1949 FIG. 3

INVENTOR JOHN F. RUDE BY Mwp1% ATTORNEYS June 10, 1952 J. F. RUDE 2,600,331

DISK HARROW ANGLING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 27, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s I24 I I6 INVENTORV JOHN F. RUDE BY qua-41%;

ATTORNEYS J. F. RUDE DISK HARROW ANGLING MECHANISM June 10, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 27, 1949 INVENTOR JOHN F. RQDE v ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED DISK HARROW ANGLING MECHANISM John F. Rude, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Alvan V. Burch, Evansville, Ind.

Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,081

8-Claims. 1

This invention relates to harrows, and particularly to tandem disc harrows especially adapted for .being provided with a tractor lift type hitch.

Tandem disc harrows ordinarily fall into two general classifications: the type which is provided with a draw bar for drawing them across the ground to be worked and which ordinarily has the rear gangs flexibly connected with the front gangs so that the harrow can be turned without lifting it from the ground; and the type adapted for being connected with a tractor hitch of the lift type and in which the rear gangs are usually rigidly connected with the forward gangs so that the entire harrow can be lifted by the tractor hitch. Thi last mentioned type has the disadvantage in that it is difficult to turn the harrow without lifting it from the ground. Since the harrow must be turned at each end of the field being worked it will be evident that this is a marked disadvantage. Furthermore, when the rear gangs are thus rigidly connected with the front gangs, a desirable degree. of flexibility of the gangs relatively in the vertical direction is thereby lost and the ground working characteristics of the harrow are diminished.

One of the primary objects of the instant invention is the provision of a tandem type disc harrow adapted for being connected with a tractor hitch of the lift type but in which the rear gangs are flexibly connected with the front gangs.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an arrangement for a tandem type disc harrow adapted for being connected with a tractor hitch of the lift type in which the entire harrow can be elevated from the ground by the tractor hitch, but in which the rear gangs ar flexible in a horizontal plane when the harrow-is on the ground thereby permitting a turning movement of the harrow without elevating it.

A still further object is the provision of an improved construction for tandem disc harrows in which the rear gangs are freely flexible in both vertical and horizontal planes relative to the front gangs and in which the entire harrow can be ele vated as a unit for transporting.

It is also an object to provide a tandem type disc harrow having an improved arrangement for relatively canting the gangs relative to each other.

A'still further object is the provision of a disc harrow construction in which the gangs can be canted relative to each other and including an adjustment whereby the canting of the rear gangs can be adjusted independently of those of the front gangs.

It-is also an object of this invention to provide an arrangement for a tandem type type disc harrow which is adapted for connection with either a tractor type lifting hitch or with a draw bar.

Various other and more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds. I

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: I

Figure 1 is a plan view of a harrow constructed according to my invention-and with the gangs of the front and rear pairs canted relative to each other. Th harrow construction illustrated in Figure 1 is provided with means for connection to a tractor hitch of the lift type;

Figure 2 is a plan view similar to Figure 1 but showing the gangs adjusted into parallelism with each other.

Figure 3 is a sectional view indicated by the line 33 on Figure 2. v

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but taken near the center of the harrow and indicated by the line 4-4- on Figure 2. I

Figure 5 is a rear view of the harrow as it would be seen looking from the rear of Figure 2 with the harrow, on levelground. r W

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the right-hand gang of the tandem pair elevated as it would be if it were passing over a high spot in the ground being worked. 7 1

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the outer ends of both of the gangs of the tandem pair lifted.

Figure 8 is a perspective view-showing a snubber arrangement for holding the inner ends of the front gang pair down againstthe earth being worked.

Figure 9 is a side view similar to Figure 3 but showing the harrow of this invention connected with a draw bar type draft device.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the draw bar of Figure 2 showing the means provided therein for canting the gangs of the harrow relative to each other.

Referring more in detail to thedrawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 through 8, the bar'- row construction shown therein comprises a front pair of gangs indicated at l0 and I2 and a'rear or tandem pair of gangs indicated-at I4 and I6.

Eachof the gangs includes a plurality of disc members mounted on a shaft and having spacing spools therebetween. Each of the assembled gangs has an outer and an, inner bearing. On the front gangs the outer bearings are at I8 and the inner bearings are at 26. The outer bearings for the rear gangs are indicated at 22 and the inner bearings therefor at 24.

A transverse member 26, which is an angle, is disposed forwardly of the front gangs and secured to the outer ends of the member 26 or arms 28 which carry draft hooks 36 that engage the slotted eyes 32 in the housings of the bearings l8. Brace members 34 may be provided for added sup port of the draft hooks on the member 26.

The member 26 also has secured adjacent its outer ends and extending rearwardly therefrom the arms 36 that engage the standards 38 of the front gangs and which standards extend between and are secured to the aforementioned bearings. The standards also provide support for the bars 46 which mount the scraper elements 42. Straps 44 are connected between the bars 46 and the standards 38 as shown in the drawings.

. Positioned forwardly of the rear gangs I4 and I6 is'a U-shaped member 56 which is angular in cross-section and which has secured to the lowermost points of its downturned ends the rearwardly extending draft hooks 52 which engage eyes in the bearings 22. The rear gangs I4 and I6 have the standards 54 which are similar to the standards 38 of the front gangs and which are likewise similarly connected between the bearings 22 and 24 of the rear gangs.- The rear gan s include the boxes or frames 56 which are mounted on'the standards 54 and which are useful for receiving weights to hold the tandem gangs down against the earth. The rear parts of the boxes 56 also provide supports for the scraper elements 58 for the discs of the rear gangs.

The boxes and standards are held upright by the straps 51 which extend therefrom forwardly and are secured to the turned down end parts of the member 56 as at 59. The connection between the straps 51 and the standards 54 is pivotal so that the standards can turn between their Figures 1 and 2 position.

The standards 54 are preferably interconnected by the relatively heavy bar 60 having the slots 62 in the ends thereof for receiving the bolts 64 that extend into the standards 54.

Turning now to Figures-3 and 4, the connections to the inner bearings of the front and rear gangs will be clearly seen. Mounted substantiah ly in the center of the cross bar 26 and extending forwardly therefrom is an arm means I6. Pivoted to the forward end of the arm means III as by the-pivot I2 is a vertically extending lever I4 which, at its lower end, is pivotally connected with a pair of rearwardly extending draft hooks I6 that engage eyes in the inner front'gang bearings-26 as will be seen in Figures 1 and 4. Above the pivot I2 the lever I4 pivotally supports a block I8 in which is journaled a crank 86 having a screw threaded part as at 82 extending through a nut 64. The nut 84 is pivoted in a frame 86 that is mounted on and secured to the cross bar 26 as by bolts. The pivot means for both the blockI8 and the nut 84 may comprise the trunnions shown at 88.

It will be evident that rotation of the crank 86 will adjust the position of the block I8 relative to the nut 84 and thus cause the lever I4 to pivot about its connection with the arm means I6. This movement of the lever will be accompanied by movement of the draft hooks I6 which, in turn, will adjust the inner ends of the front gangs relative to the outer ends thereof and provide the desired canting movement of the said gangs.

Inasmuch as the inner ends of the front gangs tend to raise upwardly whenthe harrow is working, there are preferably provided snubber means which embrace the draft hooks I6 as will be seen in Figures 4 and 8. These snubber means comprise angle members 96 which are secured to the cross members 26 as by the plates 62 and which extend-downwardly to have mounted thereon the box-like structures 94 and through which the draft hooks I6 extend. It will be apparent that these snubbers permit free axial movement of the draft hooks I6 but limit their up and down movement.

The members 96 are secured to plates 92 by bolts 9|, and there are preferably provided additional bolt receiving apertures to permit vertical adjustment of members 96 if desirable or necessary. v

The draft connection between the front and rear gangs comprises a central and longitudinally existing draft bar I60 which at its rear end is bolted to the frame member 56 of the tandem gangs as indicated at I62 in Figure 2. This draft bar extends forwardly and overlies the upper plate of the frame 86 and has a turned down end part I64 extending through the said plate as will best be seen in Figure 4. The draft bar I66 is thus effective for transmitting draft from the member 26 to the member 56 but, due to its pivotal connection with the frame 86, permits free pivoting movement of the tandem gangs in a horizontal plane relative to the front gangs. This flexibility in a horizontal plane permits the turning of the harrow while it is on the ground and without any excessive dragging of the harrow gangs as is the case when it is attempted to turn a harrow having a rigid connection between the front and rear gang pairs.

As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the draft bar I66 is braced so as to be rigid relative to the member 56-by the diagonally extending brace bars I66 These brace bars absorb thrusts on the member 56 which would tend to bend the draft bar I06.

The U-shaped member 50 is braced against movement in a vertical plane about its connection with the rear end of the draft bar I06 and the rear ends of the brace bars I66 by the diagonal members I67 that are connected at their upper ends as at I69 with the brace bars I66 and at their lower ends as at III with the turned down end parts of the member 50. The members I6! are principally tension members and assist in transmitting draft to the cross member 56.

Slidably superimposed on the bar I66 is a second bar I68 which, at its left-hand end, is pivotally connected with the upper end of the lever I4 as by the link H6. A bracket indicated at II 2 is secured to the bar I68 and embraces the bar I66 for slidably guiding the bar I66 in reciprocatory movement along the said bar I60. Rearwardly of the bracket H2 there is mounted an upwardly extending arm II 4 on the bar I66 and at the upper end of this bar is pivotally mounted a block H6 through which the crank element H8 extends. The crank element H8 is threaded and extends through a nut I26 pivotally mounted in the upper end of a lever I2I that is-pivotedz adjacentLthe rearc'end of tnelbar' wr The. lever; I2-.I,.extenids zthe lever I2I is normally rigidpwith ithe bar 11.08.; .80.

that; reciprocatory movement ofithezban; I08 a broughtJabOut by. movement of -lever:14;bythe crank 80 will cause movement-of the'draftghoo I 24. and thereby; cant. thettreartgangs relative to each other. r 5.

"It'lWill'LlSO be'eobserved that gthekbar- I08 is connected with thelever: I4 :ongthe opposite: side of the pivot means I2 thereof from; the draft hooks ,I6 and. that;;therefor.e, the canting. ofrthe rear: gangs when the: crank;80 isi adjusted will be in .the opposite sense'to' the canting-ofthe front gangs. This is brought out in Figure 1 wherein itlwill be seen that the :inner ends of the front gangs-havebeenmoved 'backwardly while theinner ends of the rear gangs have been moved forwardly." 1 "I Means are provided'for adjusting therear gangs independently of the'front gangs and this means will be seen to comprise the crank I8, its supporting arm: H4 and the lever I-2I. Upon adjustment of the'crank I I8 the lever I2 I will rotate about its pivotal support I22 and shift the draft hooks I24 thereby to adjust the angular independently of the front gangs:

pstanding from the cross amember .26 arer-a.

pairof bars: I30 which form'aportion of raz hitch devicefor connecting the harrow to a tractor. Connections to a usual type tractor hitch include a connection to theaperture I 32 at the-upper ends of the bars I30 and to' the studs I34 extending outwardly from the lower'ends of the said bars. In order to lift the rear gangs when the front gangs are elevatedby lifting of the afore' mentioned bars and the cross member '26 by their connection with a tractor hitch, there is provided a pair of flexible inextensible connec tions extending from the upper endsof the bars I30 to spaced points on the member 50 of the rear gangs. These flexible inextensible members are indicated at I36 and "each will be seen to comprise a pair of links I38 which are connected by means of eyes with the upper ends'of the bars.

I30 and with each other and with thclips I40 which are secured to the member 50.

Itwill be apparent that the connections I36 provide means whereby 'the'en'tire harrow can be elevated as a unit by a tractor hitch of the lift type but at the same time theseconnections do not detract from the flexibility of the harrow in either a horizontal or a vertical plane; The

flexibility of the harrow in a vertical plane is il'- lustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and in these figures it will be noted that the links I38 breakatfi-their connection in order to'permit' lifting of either or both of the rear gangs of the harrow. 'Atthej spots "in" the the link IIO between the bar I 08 and thele er I4 are so arranged as not to inhibit the;flexibilitYrOfithB harrow in a horizontal plane. This freedom of ,flexibility'is due to the fact that both the connections 136 and the link :I I0 make connections, byimea ns: of. eyes i n- .positions generally.

vertically; above :the/pivotal connection: of-.-the

draftybar'sl00withthe frame 86; r

-,In Figures;.9'and1210 the harrow is shown ar.- ranged-for rconnection-withla draw bar.- Sub-- stantiallyall parts of the harrow proper are identical pwithr those shown in- Figures -1-- through 8, therefore corresponding numerals are employed iwith the addition of a subscript a.

In these figures, however, in place of the structure for connecting the harrow with a tractor hitch, there is a draw bar I which connects with the member 26a. This connection may be, :as shown, adjacent the-pivot means 12a of the lever 14a. This draw bar I50 is formed'of a pair of angles as will be seen in the perspective view, Figure 10. Slidably mounted within the angles is another bar I52 and which carries at its forward end a clevis or other suitable hitching device I54. The bar I52 alsomount the notched block I56 and a yoke I58 is pivoted on the draw bar I50 so'that the closed end thereof as at I60 can be dropped into one or the other'of the notches in the block I56. It will be seen that this arrangement provides for selective adjustment of the bar I52 along the draw bar I 50. The adjustability of the bar l5 2 along the draw bar I50is utilizedfor can'tingthe'gangs by means of the connection-shown at I62 and'which connects thebar I52'withthe lower end of lever 14d. f

It will beeVident that the harrow arrangement'shown in Figures 9 and 10 is the full equivalent of that shown in Figures 1 through 8 as regards the] general harrow construction, the canting of the front and rear gangs, the independent adjustability of the rear gangs, and the other features referred to in connection with the arrangement of Figures 1 through 8, but the harrow is not. adapted for being elevated fortransportingdue to the elimination of the inextensible connections I36 and th upright bars I30 which, in the constructionv shownby Figures 1 through 8, form the means for connecting the harrow with i a tractor hitch of the lift type.

The advantagesof the harrow construction shown-anddescribed may be summarized as follows: the harrow is strong but is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The harrow hasflexibility between the front and rear gangs such that it can readily be turned while all ofthe discs are;in-working engagement with the ground. The harrow gangs have flexibility in the vertical direction thereby permitting the harrow to fol- 'low the contour of-the ground. The aforementioned' flexibility in the vertical direction is limited so that high spots can be effectively worked down.

'The harrow'is adapted for connection with a tractor-hitch of:- the lift type .and withoutlosing any of. its inherent flexibility. It is relatively simple to convert the harrow from a tractor hitch type to a draw bar hitch type.

While preferred'specific embodiments of the invention are hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is "not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in puttingthe'invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs, a transverse beam for each gang pair pivotally connected with the outer ends thereof, a draft bar rigid with the rear beam and pivotally connected with the front beam at the center thereof, a lever pivoted between its ends on the front beam, draft hooks connecting the lower end of the lever with the inner ends of said front gangs, a second bar slidably guided on said draft bar and pivotally connected at its forward end with the upper end of said lever and adjustably connected at its rear end with the inner ends of 'the rear gangs, a structure upstanding from said front beam for connecting the harrow to a lift type tractor hitch, and means for exerting lifting force on the rear beam when the harrow is elevated comprising jointed members having their ends pivotally connected to an upper central point of said structure and their other ends connected to laterally spaced points on said rear beam, the pivotal connection of said jointed member to said structure and of said other bar to said lever being generally in vertical alignment with the pivotal connection of said draft bar and front beam whereby free swinging of the rear gang structure relative to the front gangs obtains.

2. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs and front and rear transverse beams pivotally connected with the outer ends of said gangs, a draft bar connecting the middle parts of said beams, a lever pivoted on the front beam and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said front gangs, a second bar slidably mounted on said draft bar and connected to the upper end of said lever, 21. second lever pivoted between its ends to the rear end of said second bar and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said rear gangs, and means for independently angularly adjusting said levers about their pivotal supports.

3. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs; front and rear transverse beams pivotally connected with the outer ends of said gangs, a longitudinal draft bar extending between said beams rigid with the rear beam and pivoted to the front beam, a vertical lever pivoted between its ends to the front of the front beam and connected at its lower end with the inner ends of said front gangs, a second bar slidably mounted on said draft bar and connected to the upper end of said lever, a second vertical lever pivoted to the rear end of said second bar and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said rear gangs, means normally holding said second lever and second bar rigid but adjustable for changing the position of said second lever on the bar, and means for adjusting said first lever about its pivot to cant said gangs.

4. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs; front and rear transverse beams pivotally connected with the outer ends of said gangs, a longitudinal draft bar extending between said beams rigid with the rear beam and pivoted to the front beam, a vertical lever pivoted between its ends to the front of the front beam and connected at its lower end with the inner ends of said front gangs, a second bar slidably mounted on said draft bar and connect ed to the upper end of said lever, a second vertical lever pivoted to the rear end of said second bar and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said rear gangs, screw threaded means normally holding said second lever and second bar rigid but adjustable for changing the position of said second lever on the bar, and means for adjusting said first lever about its pivot to cant said gangs.

5. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs; front and rear transverse beams pivotall connected with the outer ends of said gangs, a longitudinal draft bar extending between said beams rigid with the rear beam and pivoted to the front beam, a first vertical lever pivotally supported between its ends on the front of the front beam and connected at its lower end with the inner ends of said front gangs, a second bar slidably mounted on said draft bar and connected to the upper end of said first lever, a second vertical lever pivotally supported on the rear end of said second bar and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said rear gangs, and independent adjustable clamping means for said levers for clamping the levers in any of a plurality of positions of angular adjustment on their respective pivotal supports.

6. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs; front and rear transverse beams pivotally connected with the outer ends of said gangs, a longitudinal draft bar extending between said beams rigid with the rear beam and pivoted to the front beam, a vertical lever pivoted between its ends to the front of the front beam and connected at its lower end with the inner ends of said front gangs, a second bar slidably mounted on said draft bar and connected to the upper end of said lever, a second vertical lever pivoted to the rear end of said second bar and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said rear gangs, screw threaded means normally holding said second lever rigid on said second bar, and screw threaded means normally holding said first lever rigid on said front beam, and said means being independently adjustable for canting said gangs.

7. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs and front and rear transverse beams pivotally connected with the outer ends of said gangs, a draft bar connecting the middle parts of said beams, a first lever pivoted on the front beam and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said front gangs, a second bar slidably mounted on said draft bar and connected to the upper end of said first lever, a second lever pivoted between its ends to the rear end of said second bar and having its lower end connected with the inner ends of said rear gangs said draft bar being pivoted to the front one of said beams and said second bar being jointed adjacent its front end to permit swinging movement of said rear gangs when the harrow is turning, first adjustable means connecting said first lever and said beam to provide for a plurality of adjusted positions of said first lever about its pivotal support on the beam, and second adjustable means connecting said second lever and said second bar to provide for a plurality of adjusted positions of said second lever about its pivotal support on the said second bar.

8. In a tandem disc harrow having front and rear pairs of gangs, a frame for each pair including a transverse draft beam pivotally connected with the outer ends of the corresponding gangs, a draft bar rigid with the rear beam and extending forwardly and pivotally connected with the front beam, a lever pivoted between its ends on the front beam, draft hooks connecting the lower end of the lever with the inner ends of the front gangs, other draft hooks engaging the inner ends of the rear gangs, a second bar slideably mounted on said draft bar connected with said other draft hooks at its rear end and with the upper end of said lever at the front end, said second bar being jointed rearwardly of its front end and adjacent the pivotal connection of 10 JOHN F. RUDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,627 McKay Apr. 3, 1945 1,487,388 Johnson Mar. 18, 1924 1,489,020 Smith Apr. 1, 1924 1,497,956 Stewart June 17, 1924 2,320,624 Love June 1, 1943 2,376,609 McVicar May 22, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Farm Implement and Machinery Review, volume 74, No. 880, dated August 1, 1948, page 364;

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